[RandyB]

Scenario: The car is locked up tight. The car battery is deader than a doornail (whatever that is). You can't access the battery, since it's under the hood and the hood latch is inside the car and the doors are electrically operated by the dead battery. OnStar can't do anything because the battery is dead. The owner's manual is in the glove box, behind the locked doors.

Chevy has you covered. In the owner's manual, page 20 the procedure is described. I hope you never need this info.

I haven't tried this process, but I'm assuming it will work. Ahhh, the pleasure of reading the Owner's Manual. It's nice having it as a PDF.

 

[Trail Blazed]

I guess I need to start reading the manual.
I had no idea what I call the key fob. they call a remote key entry or RKE actually has a key. You have to push the chrome button on the side to get it to separate and then you can put the key in that opening. My equinox you pushed a button to get the key to flip out and start the car with key in cylinder. I remember after buying the new TB thinking to myself what no key? What if the battery is dead? and meant to ask the salesman and must of got distracted by something else and didn't ask.
So, thank you for the education.

 

[mopel]

Scenario: The car is locked up tight. The car battery is deader than a doornail (whatever that is). You can't access the battery, since it's under the hood and the hood latch is inside the car and the doors are electrically operated by the dead battery. OnStar can't do anything because the battery is dead. The owner's manual is in the glove box, behind the locked doors.

Chevy has you covered. In the owner's manual, page 20 the procedure is described. I hope you never need this info.

View attachment 130

I haven't tried this process, but I'm assuming it will work. Ahhh, the pleasure of reading the Owner's Manual. It's nice having it as a PDF.

Yep. Had to do this today. Not sure what caused the battery to die. Only had it for one week.

 

[ZR2LIFE]

Yep. Had to do this today. Not sure what caused the battery to die. Only had it for one week.

Sorry to hear about the dead battery. When you do find out why it died please share with us. Hopefully it was just a defective battery.

Steve

 

[brownactive]

yea a new car, dead battery, please report back what it was.
Yea this car has so much stuff I have read the manual casually a few times and learn more each time.

 

[Quaid]

I have had this happen on other vehicles when subsystems failed to power down when the car was turned off (Ford Sync3). I've also done it to myself at the start of the pandemic when I left a usb charger plugged into the 12v and then left the car unused for a few weeks.

I'm keen to learn what caused this issue for @mopel

 

[ShaneW]

Scenario: The car is locked up tight. The car battery is deader than a doornail (whatever that is). You can't access the battery, since it's under the hood and the hood latch is inside the car and the doors are electrically operated by the dead battery. OnStar can't do anything because the battery is dead. The owner's manual is in the glove box, behind the locked doors.

Chevy has you covered. In the owner's manual, page 20 the procedure is described. I hope you never need this info.

View attachment 130

I haven't tried this process, but I'm assuming it will work. Ahhh, the pleasure of reading the Owner's Manual. It's nice having it as a PDF.

Yep. Had to do this today. Not sure what caused the battery to die. Only had it for one week.

I just had this happen today, The car is only 4 months old and went out today after not driving for 4 days and the power locks were dead, Onstar can't remote unlock, i am assuming a dead battery. Waiting to tow to the dealer now.

 

[kjg48359]

On the issue of a battery loosing it's power, remember there is always "parasitic" drain on the battery all the time due to electronics keeping themselves awake enough to respond to things like remote key fobs and even clock and radio memory functions. Exact drain depends on your vehicles options. Also, if it is really an issue, make sure nothing else is plugged into power feeds or USB ports (some devices will have lights which will have a slight draw on power).

Also, due to the Pandemic, a lot of us are probably working from home and/or just not using the vehicles as much. It would be odd of newer batteries (less than a year) going bad, but it might be advisable to start the car for a few minutes on a regular basis to maintain that charge (colder weather is worse).

A jump or trickle charge are also options if you find your diving patterns are not what they normally would be as well.

 

[Quaid]

Also, due to the Pandemic, a lot of us are probably working from home and/or just not using the vehicles as much. It would be odd of newer batteries (less than a year) going bad, but it might be advisable to start the car for a few minutes on a regular basis to maintain that charge (colder weather is worse).

A jump or trickle charge are also options if you find your diving patterns are not what they normally would be as well.

^ I second this.

The owner's manual for the 2021 TB indicates that the rear cargo 12V outlet is always powered, even when the ignition is off. This feature is a doulbe-edged sword. Devices left plugged in to the rear cargo outlet can continue to drain the battery after the ignition is turned off, but this is also a convenient opportunity for solar trickle charging if you leave your TB parked outdoors. Trickle charging won't help if the battery is unhealthy/damaged, if the electronic systems are malfunctioning, or if an external device is left plugged-in and powered.

Here is an example of the type of solar trickle charger I've been using. They are rated for small wattage (1 - 5 W) and in practice they only supply a fraction of that rating, but that is normally all that is needed to keep things topped-up.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunway-Solar-Maintainer-Motorcycle-Snowmobile/dp/B06WP95W51

There are certainly better trickle charging options than the solar version if you park your TB closer to main voltage outlets (eg 120V). This is a classic trickle charger that works well when you are close to 120V outlets. You don't need any expensive high-amperage chargers to keep an unattended battery topped-off. This is rated at 0.75 amp (9 watts), and that is plenty.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S

 

[Walkinshaw Val]

^ I second this.

The owner's manual for the 2021 TB indicates that the rear cargo 12V outlet is always powered, even when the ignition is off. This feature is a doulbe-edged sword. Devices left plugged in to the rear cargo outlet can continue to drain the battery after the ignition is turned off, but this is also a convenient opportunity for solar trickle charging if you leave your TB parked outdoors. Trickle charging won't help if the battery is unhealthy/damaged, if the electronic systems are malfunctioning, or if an external device is left plugged-in and powered.

Here is an example of the type of solar trickle charger I've been using. They are rated for small wattage (1 - 5 W) and in practice they only supply a fraction of that rating, but that is normally all that is needed to keep things topped-up.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunway-Solar-Maintainer-Motorcycle-Snowmobile/dp/B06WP95W51

There are certainly better trickle charging options than the solar version if you park your TB closer to main voltage outlets (eg 120V). This is a classic trickle charger that works well when you are close to 120V outlets. You don't need any expensive high-amperage chargers to keep an unattended battery topped-off. This is rated at 0.75 amp (9 watts), and that is plenty.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S

Wait. What? I have an RS. Do I have a rear cargo 12v charger? I know about the 110/120v in the back seat. Haven't seen the 12v rear cargo. Saw the same statement on page 85 also.